Locking lever



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J. G. s TEELE LOCKING LEVER Filed Jan.. 9, 1,928`

- means for locking Fatented Mar. 1,9, 1929.

iii'frso STATES `1,706,331 PATENT, orrie JOHN G. STEELE, E LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA.

vrecidive LEVER.

Application filed January 9, 1928A. Serial No. 245,431.

This invention relates to locking levers-V and more particularly to a lever adapted for operating the emergency brakes of automo-l biles. v i

An important object of theinvention is to provide novely means for locking a lever in any one of a number of selected positions.

A further object is to provide a lever which is adapted foi' a varietyy of uses,such as means for operating the emergency brakes of automobiles, for operating the throttle valves of steam-engines, etc., and provided with novel the lever in selected positions. f n

A further object is to provide a novel form `of operating lever lhaving advantageous means substituted for the usual pawl and ratchet devices employed for locking levers in selected positions. further ob]ec`t is to provide a device of the character described having novel and siniple means for locking a lever in selected positions. and which means is adaptedy readily -to be released to permit free movement ofthe lever in either direction, and to providekey controlled means associated with the locking means for preventing operation of the latter.

A further object is to provide a quadrant associated with a portion cfa pivoted lever,

a member adapted for engagement between i the lever and quadrant. forV fixing thelever in selected positions, and novel means for releasing the engagingmember whereby Vthe lever freely may beV swung in either direction.

A further object is to provide a locking member in the form of a ball arranged between'the lever and quadrant and adapted normally to be projected toward the latter for engagement within j openings formed therein, the ball. being.' Vmovable to a position wherein its `center is arranged wholly `within the opening to prevent movement of the lever,

and to provide means for releasing the ball for movement toa position with its center arranged wholly outwardly of the opening in thequadrantvwhereby the lever is freely movable in either direction.v

A' further object is toyprovide a novel device of the character referred to which is of.

such construction thatxits operating parts, when the key controlled nieansis 1n operation, cannot be reached to be tampered with bv unauthorized persons without breaking' the ffitructure,y whereby the device is particulariy adapted for use as a vehicle locking means.

f ing shown insection,

Other objects yand advantages of Vthe invention will be apparent during the course.

of the following description.

In the drawings, I have shown several embodiments of the invention. In this showing, ,n

'Figure l is a perspective view of the device,

Figure 2 is a centrallongitudinal sectional v Referring to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a plate having openings vl1 thereinline 5-5 of for the' reception of rivets or the like whereby the' plate may besecured to any suitable poi'- tion of a vehicle such as the frame, or the cross bracesv extending between the sides thereof. It will become apparent however that the device is not limited in its application to a inotor vehicle, but may be employed wherever a locking lever ordinarily is used.

A quadrant indicated as a whole bythenumeral 12 is carried by the platelO. This quadrant comprises a pair of complementary sections 13, oneof which is provided at its top portion with laterally projecting arms 14 which may be secured to the plate l0 by` rivets or the like 15. rlhe quadrant is preferably substantially semicircular and may be covered at its sides and bottom with a 'sheet metal casing 16.

The quadrant comprising the sections I3 is provided with an arcuate channel l? for the reception of av coil spring I8 which extends throughout the greater portion of the length Aof the channel 17 and is secured at its ends therein by rivets or thel like 19 passing Cil through eyes formed at the ends of the spring and through the quadrant sections. This spring is maintained at all times under a slight tension, for a purpose to be described., and lies againstthe top of the channel 1?.

The quadrant is provided in its top with NoV a plurality of openings 2O tor the selective reception of a preferably steel ball 21 associated with a lever indicated as a whole by the numeral 22. This lever will be referred to in detail later. The openings 20 communicate with the channel 17, the communication be ing restricted by inwardly extending shoulders 23 which limit the downward movement of the ball 20. For a purpose to be described, the center of the ball 21 is arranged beneath the top tace 24 of the quadrant when the ball engages the shoulder 23. As previously stated, the spring 18 lies against the top of the channel 17, and since a portion of the ball projects into 'this channel, the ball is movable to its lower limit only against the tension ot the spring 18. For the purpose o'l providing drainage, the bottom oi the quadrant is provided at spaced intervals with openings communicating with the channel 17,the casing 16 also being provided vwith similar openings 26. lt will be apparent that any water which `may gather in the channel 17 will be drained therefrom throughthe openings and 26. v v The lever22, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with a laterally extending shaft portion 27 journaled in a bushing 28 arranged in a depression 29 formed in the plate l0. This depression is covered, and the hushing 28 is retained inposition by a small plate 30 riveted to the plate 10 as at 3l, or otherwise secured thereto. The outer end oi' Athe shaft portion of the lever is provided with a collar 32, which engages theend of the bushing 29, the vertical portion of the lever engaging the opposite portion oit the bushing whereby it will be apparent that lateral movement ot `the lever isprevented. ln its present embodiment the invention is illustrated as forming operating' means for the emergency brake of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the inner end o1" the shaft portion of the lever is provided with a depending arm 33 having an opening 34 in its lower end whereby it may be pivotally connected .to the yoke 35 of the emergency brake operating rod 36, It 'will be apparent that the upper end of the lever is movable to swing the arm 33 and thus apply or release the einergency brake.

, The vertical portion oi the lever 22 is tubular, thus being provided with an axial opening 37 slidably receiving a vertically reciprocable operating rod This rod extends into an enlarged axial recess 3Q formed in the lower end of the lever, andis threaded Vto a plunger-40 at its lower end. A pin 41.'

passes through the plunger and through the rod-to positively secure these elements together, the Aouter ends of the pin being ilush with'the outer 'face ot the plunger 40. f The lower end of the lever is provided with a plurality ot openings 42 for a purpose to be de scribed. A. coil spring 43 is arranged in the shown in Figure 2.V

recess 39, the upper end of the spring Contact Y 4of .the openings 20. Intermediate its ends,

the rod 38 is provided with a slot 44 slidably receiving a pin 45 extending through the lever at right angles to the pin 41. The outer ends of the pin 40 are riveted and polishedoii iiiush with the surfaces of the lever. Means is provided for elevating the rod 88 against kthe tension of the spring 43 to per-'- mit thecoil spring 18 to unseat the ball from any of the openings 20 .to lift the center of the ball to a position above the upper face of the quadrant. A handle 46 is arranged above the upper end ofthe lever and forms substantially a continuation thereof. The rod 38 en tends through the handle 46 axially Lthereof and is provided at its upper end with a head 47 arranged ina' recess 48 formed in the upper end lof the handle, the head seating on'the shoulder formed at the lower end of the recess. The head 47 isprovided with a trans-V verse slot 49 for a purpose to bedeseribed. The hody'of the lever is providedl with a spiral `.projection 50 engaging in a `spiral groove 51 formed in the interior o' the'handle 46, the projection 50 being carried bypan axial extension 52 lormedV on the leverand extending vupwardly into the f handle, as

A. key controlled lock 54 is arranged in theupper end of the handle and is provided with a lkey receiving slot 55. Av spring pressed pin 56 is carried by the lock 54 and is adapted to engage in an opening 57 to retain the lock in position.l vThe lower end of the lock housingv is supported upon a' shoulder 58, and a rotatable cylinder 59fis carried by the lock and depends thf-nei'roin.l This cylinder is provided in opposite sides with cams 60 adapted to engage a transverse locking plate-61, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. 5 TheV platel 61 is carried by a. disk 62which is normaily urged upwardly by av spring 63, the lower end oit which contacts with .the headl 47. Rotation ott-he locking member 61 isV prevented by eng @ement of the edgesthereoi' n in grooves 61" formed in the recess 48.

The form of the device shown in Figure is substantially,the Samev as that previously described except that the ballI 21 does not diL reetly engage the spring 18. In the modified construction, yreciprocating pins 65 are are ranged in openings ormedin the quadrant, and the pins are provided at their lower ends' with heads 67 to limittheir upward movement. The spring 18 engages the head 67 to maintain the pins 65 in normal position.

lil() The operation of the deviceis as follows:

ln assembling the lever, the pin 41' is inserted in position'through one of the openings 42, the spring 43 previously n, having been placed in position. Thev rod 38 is then turned through a quarter circle to permit the insertion of the pin 45 through the lever and through the slot 44, and the ends of the pin 45 are riveted and polished off flush with the surfaces of the lever. @Whenthe lever is nickel plated or otherwise finished, it is eX- tremely difficult to locate the position of the pin 45 to permit the pin to beremoved. ln order ,to disassemble the elements referred-to, it is necessary to remove the pin 45 and turn the rod 38 through a quarter circle ,to Vpermit the removal of the pin 4l through one of the openings 42. k'lhus it will be apparent that tampering with the device with the intention of dislodging the parts thereof is rendered extremely dili'cult. The plates l0 and 30 preferably are formed of steel and are riveted to each other and to the desired part of the vehicle by hardl rivets,thus rendering extremely diflicult the removal of the device from the frame, or the removal of the plate 30 to permit the lever to be lifted. 'lo

` assemble the lock, the spring 63and the locking member are placed in position, whereupon the pin 56 is depressed into the lock to permit the latter to be inserted in the upper end of the handle. As soon as the pin 5G reaches a point in registration with the opening 57 ,it will spring thereinto. and cannot subsequently be removed.

By turning the handle 46 about its axis a slight distance in one direction, the engagement of the projection 50 and groove v5l will cause the handle to move upwardly with respect to the lever. Since the head 47 seats on the shoulder at the bottom Vof the recess48, it will be apparent that ,the turning of the handle also will lift the rod 38 against the tension of the spring 43. The quadrant spring 18 then willA lift the ball 2l. to ,a position wherein its center is arranged above the up,- per face of the quadrant, whereupon the lever may be swung in either direction as may be desired. The position ofthe ball, as just described, permits it topass over the top of the quadrant, moving past the successive openings 20. lAs soon as the desired'position of the levez-,is reached, the handle 46 is released and the spring 43 will move the plunger 40 v downwardly to project the ball 21 toits limit of movement in one of the openings 20.

l/Vhen in such position, the center of the ball will be arranged wholly within the opening in which the ball is arranged. In other words, the center of the ball will be arranged b eneath the top face 24 ofthe quadrant, and the lever will be lockedagainst movement in veither direction. l/Vith the ball in .the position stated, there is Ano tendency for the sides of the opening 2O in which the ball is arranged Vthe lever against movement.

to act as a cam toy lift the ball and plunger 40 against the tension of the spring 43. It has been found that with the structure disclosed, the vibration and jarring of the vehicle. will not cause the ball to become dislodged from ani given opening in the quadn rant and the lever will be positively maintained in any selected position. rlhe pin 45 prevents rotationof the rod 33 while the engagement of the ends of the locking member 6l inthe grooves 6l will prevent rotation of the locking member, and thus the latter will be retained in alinement with the transverse slot 49, the parts being so designed thatthe elements referred to willcbe alined when the handle is in its lowermost position. lllien it is desired to lock the rod 38 against movement, the proper key is inserted inthe slot 55 to rotate the cylinder 59, whereupon the cams oO engage the locking member to move the lower end thereof into engagenmt with the slot 49. rlhis action prevents rotation of the handle 46 and accordingly the projection 50 and groove 5l cannot vfunction to lift the rod 38. The rod readily may be released for movement by rotating the cylinder 59 in the parent that the device is readily adapted for use as means for fixing the. emergency brake lever of a vehicle in any desired position, and as means for preventing the unauthorized movement of the lever.l Obviously therefore the brake may bel retained in operative position to prevent unauthorized. use of the vehicle. l The operation of the form of the device shown in Figure 7 is substantiallythe same as that previously described and need not be referred to y in detail. 1instead of the ball directly engaging the spring 18, it will depress either of the pins 65 against the tension of the spring 18, and the ball, when in operative position, will be,k arranged with its center beneath the inner face of the quadrant to lock Similarly,

Ytoinoperative position. Thus it will be apf when theleverA is to be moved, the spring 18,

acting onthe previously depressed pin 65 will lift the ball to a position with its center above the top of the quadrant, whereupon the lever will be freely movable. i Y

It is to be vunderstood that the forms of my invention herewith .shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shapes, sizes, and arrangement of parts .may be resorted to without departing from they spirit of the invention or the scope of the s'ubjoined claims.`

l claim: v A Y l. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a stationary member arranged adjacent said lever, a locking member movable with said lever, said stationary member `being provided with openings to selectively receive said locking member, means carried by said stationary member ior normally urging said locking member out of said openings, means carried by said lever for normally overcoming said lirst named n eans and seating said locking member in either of said openings, and means for rendering said last named means inoperative.

2. A device ot the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a quadrant arranged adjacent said lever, a locking member movable with said lever, said quadrant being provided with openings to receive said locking member, means carried by said quadrant for normally urging said locking member out oi' said openings, means carried by said lever for normally overcoming said first named means and seating said locking member in either oi? said openings, and means for rendering said last named means inoperative.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a quadrant arranged adjacent said levcr, a locking member movable with said lever, said quadrant being provided with openings to receive said locking member, spring means carried by said quadrant for normally urging said locking member out of said openings, spring means carried by said lever for normally overcoming said iirst named spring means and seating-said locking member in either of said openings, and means for rendering said last named spring means inoperative.

4. A device of the characterl described comprising a pivoted lever, a quadrant arranged adjacent said lever, a locking member movable with said lever, said quadrant being` provided With openings to receive said locking member, spring means carried by said quadrant `iior normally urging said locking member partially out of said openings to permit it to pass thereover, spring means carried by said lever 'for normally overcoming said lirst named spring means and seating said locking member in either of said openings, and

means independent of said locking member Jlor relieving the latter of the tension oiA said last named spring means to render the latter inoperative.

5. A device constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said lastnamedmeans comprises a plunger'Y normally projected against said locking member by said second named spring means, and means for moving said plunger to release it 'from said locking member.

by said second named spring means, a rod connected to said plunger, and means for actuating said rod to release said plunger from said Jlocking member. c l

7. A device constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said Alast namedv means comprises a plunger normally engagingsaid locking member and projected thereagainst by said second named spring means, a rod connected to said plunger, and a handlelcarried by said lever and connected toV said rod, said handle being operative to releasesaid plunger from said looking member.

8. A device of the character describedvcomprising a pivoted lever, a quadrant arranged adjacent said lever and provided Withan arcuate concentric channel, a locking member movable with said lever, said quadrant being provided with openings communicating Ywith said channel and adapted to receive said locking member, spring means carried by .said quadrant within said channel for normally urging said locking member partially out .of said openings to permit it to pass thereover, spring means carried by said lever for -normally overcoming said first named spring means and seating said locking member in either ot said openings with a portion thereof extending into said channel against the tension of said lirst named spring means, and means for renderingsaid last named spring means inoperative.

'9. A device oi the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a quadrant Aarranged adjacent said lever and provided With-anarcuate concentric channel, a llocking ball movable with said lever, said quadrant being provided in one vface thereof with a plurality of open-ings communicating with said channel and adapted to receive said ball, a spring arranged in said channel and normally engaging the ball arranged in one of said openings to urge the ball to a point with its center are ranged outwardly of lthe `face of said quadrant, a spring carried by said lever and normally urging said ball to ka point in .one of said openings wherein the center of the ball is arranged inwardly lof the face'of said-quadrant, and means for rendering said last named spring inoperative.

10. A device constructed in accordance with claim 9 wherein said last named means comprises a plunger normally projected against said ball by said secondnamed spring, and means for moving said plunger to release the tension of said second named spring `from said ball.

11. A device constructed in accordance with claim 9 wherein said last namedv means comprises a plunger normally engaging said ball and projected 'thereagainst by said second named spring, a rod mounted insaid 'lever and connected to said plunger, anda liandle carried by said lever and-connected to said plunger, said handle being operative to release said plunger Vfrom said ball.

12. Adevice of the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a quadrant arranged adjacent said lever and provided with an arcuate concentric channel. a locking ball Inovable with said lever, said quadrant being provided in one face thereof with a plurality of openings communicating with said channel and adapted to selectively receivesaid ball, spring" means arranged in said channel and normally engaging `the ball yarranged in one of said openings to urge the ball to a'point wherein its center is arranged outwardly of the face of said quadrant, a plunger mounted in said lever and engaging the said ball, a spring mounted in said lever and engaging said plunger to normally urge the'ball to a point in one of said openings wherein the center ot' the ball is arranged inwardly of the 'face of said quadrant, a rod arranged in said lever and connected at one end to said plunger, a rotatable handle arrangedcoaxially with said lever and into which said rod extends.y and means operative upon rotation of said handle for moving said rod longitudinally against the tension of the spring in said lever.

13. A. device constructed in accordance with claim 12 wherein said last named means comprises a spiral rib carried by said lever, said handle being provided with a coacting spiral `Lgroove receiving said rib.

111-. A device constructed in accordance with claim 12 provided with means for lockingr said handle against rotation.

15, A device constructed in accordance with claim 12 wherein said last named means comprises a spiral rib carried by said lever, said handle being provided with a coacting spiral groove receiving said rib, and key controlled ,means carriedl by said handle and operative to prevent rotation thereof.

` ln testimony whereof I afHX my signature.

JOHN Gr. STEELE. 

